ياO دارَdwelling of مَيَّةَMayyah بِالعَلياءِat al-Alya فَالسَنَدِthen al-Sanad
يا دارَ مَيَّةَ بِالعَلياءِ فَالسَنَدِ
أَقوَتbecame deserted وَطالَand grew long عَلَيهاover it سالِفُthe bygone span of الأَبَدِtime
أَقوَت وَطالَ عَلَيها سالِفُ الأَبَدِ
O dwelling of Mayyah at al-Alya, then al-Sanad!
O abode of Mayya, amidst the highlands and the sand,
It lies deserted; long ages have passed over it.
Old age has consumed it and time has passed it by,
وَقَفتُI stood فيهاin it أُصَيلاناًat dusk أُسائِلُهاquestioning it
وَقَفتُ فيها أُصَيلاناً أُسائِلُها
عَيَّتcould not manage جَواباًan answer وَماand not بِالرَبعِin the campsite مِنany أَحَدِperson
عَيَّت جَواباً وَما بِالرَبعِ مِن أَحَدِ
I stood there at dusk, questioning it;
I stood in it calling out, questioning it,
it could give no answer, and no one was in the campsite,
It gave no answer while the land was void of people,
إِلّاexcept الأَوارِيَّthe tethering-stakes لَأياًwith difficulty ماemphatic particle أُبَيِّنُهاI distinguish them
إِلّا الأَوارِيَّ لَأياً ما أُبَيِّنُها
وَالنُؤيَand the rain-ditch كَالحَوضِlike a basin بِالمَظلومَةِin untouched earth الجَلَدِhard
وَالنُؤيَ كَالحَوضِ بِالمَظلومَةِ الجَلَدِ
save the tethering-stakes, which I could barely distinguish,
Save the wild animals spending the night therein,
and the rain-ditch, like a basin in untouched, hard earth.
And ostriches like water-troughs amid the desolate sands,
رَدَّتturned back عَلَيهِonto it أَقاصيهِits outer edges وَلَبَّدَهُand compacted it
رَدَّت عَلَيهِ أَقاصيهِ وَلَبَّدَهُ
ضَربُthe striking of الوَليدَةِthe serving girl بِالمِسحاةِwith a spade فيin الثَأَدِdamp earth
ضَربُ الوَليدَةِ بِالمِسحاةِ في الثَأَدِ
Its outer edges had been turned back upon it, and it was packed down
It reflected their distant voices and returned the echoes,
by the serving girl's blows with a spade in the damp earth.
The beating of drums at Al-Tha’d like lightning in clouds,
خَلَّتcleared سَبيلَthe way for أَتِيٍّa torrent كانَhad been يَحبِسُهُrestraining it
خَلَّت سَبيلَ أَتِيٍّ كانَ يَحبِسُهُ
وَرَفَّعَتهُand drove it upward إِلىto السَجفَينِthe two tent-curtains فَالنَضَدِthen the piled bedding
وَرَفَّعَتهُ إِلى السَجفَينِ فَالنَضَدِ
It cleared the way for a torrent it had once restrained,
It freed a prisoner who was confined,
and drove it up to the two tent-curtains, then the piled bedding.
And raised him up to the two roof-tops and the bier,
أَمسَتbecame خَلاءًdesolate وَأَمسىand became أَهلُهاits people اِحتَمَلواdeparted with their belongings
أَمسَت خَلاءً وَأَمسى أَهلُها اِحتَمَلوا
أَخنىwrought ruin عَلَيهاupon it الَّذيthat which أَخنىwrought ruin عَلىupon لُبَدِLubad
أَخنى عَلَيها الَّذي أَخنى عَلى لُبَدِ
It has become desolate, and its people have packed up and gone;
It became empty while its inhabitants moved away,
what destroyed Lubad has destroyed it.
He who lamented over it lamented over Lubad,
فَعَدِّso turn away عَمّاfrom what تَرىyou see إِذsince لاno اِرتِجاعَreclaiming لَهُfor it
فَعَدِّ عَمّا تَرى إِذ لا اِرتِجاعَ لَهُ
وَاِنمِand raise القُتودَthe saddle-frames عَلىupon عَيرانَةٍa sturdy she-camel أُجُدِfirmly built
وَاِنمِ القُتودَ عَلى عَيرانَةٍ أُجُدِ
So turn away from what you see, since it cannot be reclaimed,
So ignore what you see since it cannot be reversed,
and raise the saddle-frames onto a sturdy, firmly built she-camel,
And drive the camels gently through the soft sands,
مَقذوفَةٍpacked بِدَخيسِwith a dense mass of النَحضِflesh بازِلُهاher mature fang
مَقذوفَةٍ بِدَخيسِ النَحضِ بازِلُها
لَهُit has صَريفٌa grinding creak صَريفُthe creak of القَعوِthe pulley بِالمَسَدِagainst the twisted rope
لَهُ صَريفٌ صَريفُ القَعوِ بِالمَسَدِ
packed with dense flesh; her mature fang
Cast by the forelocks into the valley of Dakhish,
grinds with the creak of a pulley against its twisted rope.
With a ringing sound like that of cracking by hailstones,
كَأَنَّas though رَحليmy saddle وَقَدand already زالَdeclined النَهارُthe day بِناupon us
كَأَنَّ رَحلي وَقَد زالَ النَهارُ بِنا
يَومَon the day of الجَليلِal-Jalil عَلىupon مُستَأنِسٍone listening alertly وَحِدِsolitary
يَومَ الجَليلِ عَلى مُستَأنِسٍ وَحِدِ
It is as though my saddle, with the day declining upon us,
As though my camel-litter when the day declined with us
on the day of al-Jalil, were on a solitary bull, listening alertly,
On a miserable, lonely day amid the hissing wind,
مِنamong وَحشِthe wild beasts of وَجرَةَWajrah مَوشِيٍّpatterned أَكارِعُهُhis shanks
مِن وَحشِ وَجرَةَ مَوشِيٍّ أَكارِعُهُ
طاويlean المُصَيرِin the belly كَسَيفِlike the sword of الصَيقَلِthe sword-polisher الفَرَدِpeerless
طاوي المُصَيرِ كَسَيفِ الصَيقَلِ الفَرَدِ
one of Wajrah's wild beasts, with patterned shanks,
And the trees of a desolate, feared wasteland,
lean-bellied, like the sword-polisher's peerless sword.
Bending, like the straight polished Indian sword,
سَرَتtraveled by night عَلَيهِover him مِنَfrom الجَوزاءِal-Jawza سارِيَةٌa night-raincloud
سَرَت عَلَيهِ مِنَ الجَوزاءِ سارِيَةٌ
تُزجيdrives الشَمالُthe north wind عَلَيهِupon him جامِدَsolid البَرَدِhail
تُزجي الشَمالُ عَلَيهِ جامِدَ البَرَدِ
A night-raincloud from al-Jawza swept over him;
Over which the northerly wind blew, with intense cold,
the north wind drove hard hail upon him.
So it shivered for fear of the sound of dogs and passed the night sleepless;
فَاِرتاعَthen he took fright مِنat صَوتِthe cry of كَلّابٍa huntsman with hounds فَباتَand spent the night لَهُat his mercy
فَاِرتاعَ مِن صَوتِ كَلّابٍ فَباتَ لَهُ
طَوعَsubject to الشَوامِتِthe gloating foes مِنfrom خَوفٍfear وَمِنand from صَرَدِbitter cold
طَوعَ الشَوامِتِ مِن خَوفٍ وَمِن صَرَدِ
Startled by a huntsman's cry, he passed the night at his mercy,
I set them on it and it continued hissing at them,
a prey to gloating foes through fear and bitter cold.
A troop of she-camels, innocent of pregnancy,
فَبَثَّهُنَّthen he loosed them عَلَيهِupon him وَاِستَمَرَّand sped onward بِهِwith him
فَبَثَّهُنَّ عَلَيهِ وَاِستَمَرَّ بِهِ
صُمعُslender الكُعوبِat the ankle-joints بَريئاتٌfree مِنَfrom الحَرَدِlameness
صُمعُ الكُعوبِ بَريئاتٌ مِنَ الحَرَدِ
He loosed the hounds upon him, and onward he was borne by
While he was snarling, wherever I made him halt,
slender-jointed legs, free of lameness.
At the onslaughts of war by the stony tracts of Nujud,
وَكانَand was ضُمرانُDhumran مِنهُnear him حَيثُwhere يوزِعُهُhe could check him
وَكانَ ضُمرانُ مِنهُ حَيثُ يوزِعُهُ
طَعنَthe thrust of المُعارِكِthe fighter عِندَwhen المُحجَرِcornered النَجُدِbrave
طَعنَ المُعارِكِ عِندَ المُحجَرِ النَجُدِ
Dhumran was near him, where he could hold him off
He charged the wild cows, protecting them,
with the thrust of a brave fighter brought to bay.
With the onslaughts of a piercing trotter when recovering from lameness,
شَكَّpierced الفَريصَةَthe flank-muscle بِالمِدرىwith the sharp horn فَأَنقَذَهاand passed through it
شَكَّ الفَريصَةَ بِالمِدرى فَأَنقَذَها
طَعنَthe lancing of المُبَيطِرِthe veterinarian إِذwhen يَشفيhe cures مِنَfrom العَضَدِshoulder disease
طَعنَ المُبَيطِرِ إِذ يَشفي مِنَ العَضَدِ
He pierced the flank-muscle with his sharp horn and drove it through,
As though issuing from the side of his companion
like a veterinarian's lancing to cure shoulder disease.
A stupid camel, whom his owner had left behind at a camping-place,
كَأَنَّهُas though it were خارِجاًprojecting مِنfrom جَنبِthe side of صَفحَتِهِhis flank
كَأَنَّهُ خارِجاً مِن جَنبِ صَفحَتِهِ
سَفّودُa roasting-spit of شَربٍdrinkers نَسوهُthey forgot it عِندَbeside مُفتَأَدِa roasting-hearth
سَفّودُ شَربٍ نَسوهُ عِندَ مُفتَأَدِ
Jutting from the side of his flank, it looked like
So he continued swallowing the rich herbage, hunching up,
a drinking-party's spit forgotten beside a roasting-hearth.
In a miserable state, truly without any friend;
فَظَلَّthen he kept يَعجُمُgnawing أَعلىthe upper part of الرَوقِthe horn مُنقَبِضاًhuddled tight
فَظَلَّ يَعجُمُ أَعلى الرَوقِ مُنقَبِضاً
فيon حالِكِvery dark اللَونِin color صَدقٍsturdy غَيرِnot ذيpossessing أَوَدِa bend
في حالِكِ اللَونِ صَدقٍ غَيرِ ذي أَوَدِ
He kept gnawing the horn's tip, huddled tight,
When a comrade saw his companion's madness
on a dark-hued, sturdy horn, free of crookedness.
And no way to his sense or guidance,
لَمّاwhen رَأىsaw واشِقٌWashiq إِقعاصَthe instant killing of صاحِبِهِhis companion
لَمّا رَأى واشِقٌ إِقعاصَ صاحِبِهِ
وَلاand no سَبيلَway إِلىto عَقلٍblood-money وَلاand no قَوَدِretaliation
وَلا سَبيلَ إِلى عَقلٍ وَلا قَوَدِ
When Washiq saw his companion killed outright,
His soul said to him, "I see no hope here,
with no way to claim blood-money or retaliation,
And your master is not safe and sound";
قالَتsaid لَهُto him النَفسُthe soul إِنّيindeed I لاnot أَرىsee طَمَعاًhope
قالَت لَهُ النَفسُ إِنّي لا أَرى طَمَعاً
وَإِنَّand indeed مَولاكَyour companion لَمdid not يَسلَمescape unharmed وَلَمand did not يَصِدِcatch prey
وَإِنَّ مَولاكَ لَم يَسلَم وَلَم يَصِدِ
his soul told him: 'I see no hope,
So it will take me to Nu'man—verily he possesses
for your companion neither escaped unharmed nor caught his prey.'
Excellence above men both far and near.
فَتِلكَso that she-camel تُبلِغُنيbrings me to النُعمانَal-Nu'man إِنَّindeed لَهُhe has
فَتِلكَ تُبلِغُني النُعمانَ إِنَّ لَهُ
فَضلاًpreeminence عَلىover الناسِpeople فيamong الأَدنىthose nearby وَفيand among البَعَدِthose far away
فَضلاً عَلى الناسِ في الأَدنى وَفي البَعَدِ
That she-camel will bring me to al-Nu'man, for he has
I do not see any man among the people resembling him,
preeminence over people, both near and far.
Nor any retinue of the tribesmen except one;
وَلاand not أَرىdo I see فاعِلاًa man of deeds فيamong الناسِpeople يُشبِهُهُresembling him
وَلا أَرى فاعِلاً في الناسِ يُشبِهُهُ
وَلاand not أُحاشيdo I except مِنَamong الأَقوامِthe peoples مِنany أَحَدِone
وَلا أُحاشي مِنَ الأَقوامِ مِن أَحَدِ
I see no one among men whose deeds resemble his,
Namely Solomon, when Allah said to him,
and I make no exception for anyone among the peoples,
"Journey in the wilderness and mark it out with stones",
إِلّاexcept سُلَيمانُSulayman إِذwhen قالَsaid الإِلَهُGod لَهُto him
إِلّا سُلَيمانُ إِذ قالَ الإِلَهُ لَهُ
قُمarise فيamong البَرِيَّةِcreation فَاِحدُدهاand restrain it عَنِfrom الفَنَدِfolly
قُم في البَرِيَّةِ فَاِحدُدها عَنِ الفَنَدِ
except Sulayman, when God said to him:
And reduce the jinn to obedience; verily I have permitted them
Arise among creation and restrain it from folly,
To build Tadmur with clay and stone,
وخيّسِand subdue الجِنَّthe jinn إِنّيindeed I قَدhave أَذِنتُgranted permission لَهُمto them
وخيّسِ الجِنَّ إِنّي قَد أَذِنتُ لَهُم
يَبنونَthey build تَدمُرَTadmur بِالصُفّاحِwith stone slabs وَالعَمَدِand columns
يَبنونَ تَدمُرَ بِالصُفّاحِ وَالعَمَدِ
and subdue the jinn: I have granted them leave
So whoever obeys you, benefit him through his obedience,
to build Tadmur with stone slabs and columns.
Even as he obeyed you, and guide him to righteousness;
فَمَنso whoever أَطاعَكَobeys you فَاِنفَعهُthen benefit him بِطاعَتِهِfor his obedience
فَمَن أَطاعَكَ فَاِنفَعهُ بِطاعَتِهِ
كَماas أَطاعَكَhe obeyed you وَاِدلُلهُand guide him عَلىtoward الرَشَدِright conduct
كَما أَطاعَكَ وَاِدلُلهُ عَلى الرَشَدِ
Whoever obeys you, do him good for his obedience,
And whoever disobeys you, punish him with chastisement
as he obeyed you, and guide him toward right conduct.
That will deter the wrongdoers and is not simply a bandage;
وَمَنand whoever عَصاكَdefies you فَعاقِبهُthen punish him مُعاقَبَةًwith a punishment
وَمَن عَصاكَ فَعاقِبهُ مُعاقَبَةً
تَنهىdeters الظَلومَthe oppressor وَلاand do not تَقعُدsit عَلىwith ضَمَدِrancor
تَنهى الظَلومَ وَلا تَقعُد عَلى ضَمَدِ
Whoever defies you, punish him with a punishment
None is suited for this affair but you or one whom you preceded
that deters the oppressor; do not sit nursing rancor,
And outstripped the steed when it strains to the utmost;
إِلّاexcept لِمِثلِكَtoward one like you أَوor مَنone whom أَنتَyou سابِقُهُsurpass
إِلّا لِمِثلِكَ أَو مَن أَنتَ سابِقُهُ
سَبقَthe outstripping of الجَوادَthe noble steed إِذاwhen اِستَولىtakes the lead عَلىover الأَمَدِthe finish
سَبقَ الجَوادَ إِذا اِستَولى عَلى الأَمَدِ
except toward your equal, or one whom you surpass,
He gave to Farwah a hundred reddish-white camels, whose succession
as a noble steed outstrips the rest when it reaches the finish.
Of gifts is not given for misery;
أَعطىmore generous لِفارِهَةٍwith a splendid gift حُلوٍsweet تَوابِعُهاits consequences
أَعطى لِفارِهَةٍ حُلوٍ تَوابِعُها
مِنَamong المَواهِبِgifts لاnot تُعطىare given عَلىwith نَكَدِgrudging
مِنَ المَواهِبِ لا تُعطى عَلى نَكَدِ
More generous with a splendid gift, sweet in its consequences,
The Giver decked them out with trappings,
among gifts never given grudgingly.
Bright like the full moons in their upper parts;
الواهِبُthe giver of المِئَةَthe hundred camels المَعكاءَmassive زَيَّنَهاadorned them
الواهِبُ المِئَةَ المَعكاءَ زَيَّنَها
سَعدانُsa'dan burrs of توضِحَTawdih فيin أَوبارِهاtheir coats اللِبَدِmatted
سَعدانُ توضِحَ في أَوبارِها اللِبَدِ
The giver of a hundred massive camels, adorned by
And also chestnut horses, whose girths
the sa'dan burrs of Tawdih in their matted coats;
Were bound with the ropes of Hira, new and strong,
وَالأُدمَand the pale camels قَدalready خُيِّسَتwere held in check فُتلاًout-turned مَرافِقُهاtheir elbows
وَالأُدمَ قَد خُيِّسَت فُتلاً مَرافِقُها
مَشدودَةًstrapped بِرِحالِwith saddles of الحيرَةِal-Hirah الجُدُدِnew
مَشدودَةً بِرِحالِ الحيرَةِ الجُدُدِ
and pale camels held in check, their elbows turned outward,
And runners, the ends of whose leading-ropes trailed along,
strapped with new saddles from al-Hirah;
Cooled by the blowing of the northerly winds, fresh and sweet,
وَالراكِضاتِand women sweeping ذُيولَthe hems of الرَيطِfine robes فانَقَهاand made them delicate
وَالراكِضاتِ ذُيولَ الرَيطِ فانَقَها
بَردُcoolness during الهَواجِرِmidday heat كَالغِزلانِlike gazelles بِالجَرَدِon bare ground
بَردُ الهَواجِرِ كَالغِزلانِ بِالجَرَدِ
and women sweeping their robes' hems, made delicate
While the horses were kicking up the dust-clouds in their excitement,
by coolness in midday heat, like gazelles on bare ground;
Like birds escaping from a storm and intense cold;
وَالخَيلَand horses تَمزَعُgallop غَرباًeagerly فيin أَعِنَّتِهاtheir reins
وَالخَيلَ تَمزَعُ غَرباً في أَعِنَّتِها
كَالطَيرِlike birds تَنجوescape مِنَfrom الشُؤبوبِthe downpour ذيbearing البَرَدِhail
كَالطَيرِ تَنجو مِنَ الشُؤبوبِ ذي البَرَدِ
and horses galloping eagerly against their reins,
Judge with the judgment of the girl of Huyay
like birds escaping from a hail-laden downpour.
When she looked at a flock of pigeons coming to water,
اِحكُمjudge كَحُكمِas the judgment of فَتاةِthe maiden of الحَيِّthe tribe إِذwhen نَظَرَتshe looked
اِحكُم كَحُكمِ فَتاةِ الحَيِّ إِذ نَظَرَت
إِلىat حَمامِpigeons شِراعٍwater-seeking وارِدِcoming to الثَمَدِa scanty pool
إِلى حَمامِ شِراعٍ وارِدِ الثَمَدِ
Judge as the tribe's maiden judged, when she looked
Accompanied by a hawk, and then followed
at water-seeking pigeons coming to a scanty pool.
By one like an unEyelinered bottle free from dust,
يَحُفُّهُsurround it جانِباthe two sides of نيقٍa lofty peak وَتُتبِعُهُand she follows it
يَحُفُّهُ جانِبا نيقٍ وَتُتبِعُهُ
مِثلَlike الزُجاجَةِa glass vessel لَمnot تُكحَلwas treated with kohl مِنَfor الرَمَدِeye inflammation
مِثلَ الزُجاجَةِ لَم تُكحَل مِنَ الرَمَدِ
Two sides of a lofty peak enclosed them, and she tracked them with
She said: "Would that this pigeon flock were ours
an eye like glass, never treated with kohl for inflammation.
Together with our own dovecote—and half as many more!"
قالَتshe said أَلاah لَيتَماif only هَذاthis الحَمامُflock of pigeons لَناwere ours
قالَت أَلا لَيتَما هَذا الحَمامُ لَنا
إِلىin addition to حَمامَتِناour pigeon وَنِصفُهُand half of it فَقَدِthen enough
إِلى حَمامَتِنا وَنِصفُهُ فَقَدِ
She said: 'Ah, if only these pigeons were ours,
They counted them, and found them ninety-nine, lacking nothing and with nothing over,
along with our pigeon and half their number—that would suffice.'
So she completed a hundred including her own doves,
فَحَسَّبوهُthen they calculated it فَأَلفَوهُand found it كَماas حَسَبَتshe calculated
فَحَسَّبوهُ فَأَلفَوهُ كَما حَسَبَت
تِسعاًnine وَتِسعينَand ninety لَمnot تَنقُصdid she undercount وَلَمand not تَزِدِdid she overcount
تِسعاً وَتِسعينَ لَم تَنقُص وَلَم تَزِدِ
They calculated it and found it just as she had calculated:
And quickly finished the reckoning of that number.
ninety-nine, with neither shortfall nor excess.
No—by Him whose Kaaba I have touched,
فَكَمَّلَتthen completed مِئَةًa hundred فيهاamong them حَمامَتُهاher pigeon
فَكَمَّلَت مِئَةً فيها حَمامَتُها
وَأَسرَعَتand she was quick حِسبَةًin reckoning فيin ذَلِكَthat العَدَدِnumber
وَأَسرَعَت حِسبَةً في ذَلِكَ العَدَدِ
Her own pigeon made the hundred complete,
And whose body the buildings at Najd have not harbored,
and she was swift in reckoning that number.
And by the believers who take refuge with the birds,
فَلاso no لَعَمرُby the life of الَّذيHim whose مَسَّحتُI stroked كَعبَتَهُHis Ka'bah
فَلا لَعَمرُ الَّذي مَسَّحتُ كَعبَتَهُ
وَماand what هُريقَwas poured عَلىupon الأَنصابِthe sacrificial stones مِنof جَسَدِblood
وَما هُريقَ عَلى الأَنصابِ مِن جَسَدِ
No! By the life of Him whose Ka'bah I have stroked,
Whom the riders of the valley and of Sa'd touch!
and by the blood poured upon the sacrificial stones,
I have said naught of evil in what you have done
وَالمُؤمِنِand Him who safeguards العائِذاتِthose seeking refuge الطَيرِthe birds تَمسَحُهاthey stroke them
وَالمُؤمِنِ العائِذاتِ الطَيرِ تَمسَحُها
رُكبانُthe riders of مَكَّةَMecca بَينَbetween الغَيلِal-Ghayl وَالسَعَدِand al-Sa'ad
رُكبانُ مَكَّةَ بَينَ الغَيلِ وَالسَعَدِ
and by Him who safeguards the sanctuary-seeking birds, stroked
If I raise not my whip-hand against myself;
by Mecca's riders between al-Ghayl and al-Sa'ad,
But the saying of certain people has distressed me,
ماnot قُلتُdid I say مِنany سَيِّئٍevil مِمّاof what أَتَيتَyou came بِهِwith it
ما قُلتُ مِن سَيِّئٍ مِمّا أَتَيتَ بِهِ
إِذاًin that case فَلاthen may not رَفَعَتraise سَوطيmy whip إِلَيَّtoward me يَديmy hand
إِذاً فَلا رَفَعَت سَوطي إِلَيَّ يَدي
I said none of the evil things you have brought forward;
Their saying being a blow with a cranium on my liver.
if I did, may my hand never raise my whip toward me.
Then may my Lord chastise me with a chastisement
إِلّاexcept مَقالَةَthe words of أَقوامٍpeople شَقيتُI suffered بِهاthrough them
إِلّا مَقالَةَ أَقوامٍ شَقيتُ بِها
كانَتwas مَقالَتُهُمtheir utterance قَرعاًa pounding عَلىupon الكَبِدِthe liver
كانَت مَقالَتُهُم قَرعاً عَلى الكَبِدِ
It was only others' talk, through which I suffered;
That will rejoice the eye of him who brings you calumny!
their words were a pounding on my liver.
I am told that Abu Qabus has threatened me—
إِذاًin that case فَعاقَبَنيthen may he punish me رَبّيmy Lord مُعاقَبَةًwith a punishment
إِذاً فَعاقَبَني رَبّي مُعاقَبَةً
قَرَّتwas gladdened بِهاby it عَينُthe eye of مَنwhoever يَأتيكَcomes to you بِالفَنَدِwith falsehood
قَرَّت بِها عَينُ مَن يَأتيكَ بِالفَنَدِ
If so, may my Lord punish me with a punishment
But there is no repose for him who is enraged like a lion.
that gladdens the eye of whoever brings you lies.
Gently! The ransom of all the tribes is yours,
أُنبِئتُI was told أَنَّthat أَباAbu (father of) قابوسَQabus أَوعَدَنيthreatened me
أُنبِئتُ أَنَّ أَبا قابوسَ أَوعَدَني
وَلاand no قَرارَsecurity عَلىbefore زَأرٍa roar مِنَfrom الأَسَدِthe lion
وَلا قَرارَ عَلى زَأرٍ مِنَ الأَسَدِ
I was told that Abu Qabus has threatened me,
And I have no wealth or children to lose;
and there is no peace before a lion's roar.
Do not cast me into a predicament from which I have no escape,
مَهلاًgently فِداءٌa ransom لَكَfor you الأَقوامُthe peoples كُلُّهُمُall of them
مَهلاً فِداءٌ لَكَ الأَقوامُ كُلُّهُمُ
وَماand what أُثَمَّرُI nurture مِنof مالٍwealth وَمِنand of وَلَدِoffspring
وَما أُثَمَّرُ مِن مالٍ وَمِن وَلَدِ
Gently! May all the peoples be your ransom,
Even if your enemies have inveigled you with presents.
and all the wealth and offspring I nurture.
For when the winds blow fiercely the Euphrates—
لاdo not تَقذِفَنّيassail me بِرُكنٍwith a mighty force لاno كِفاءَequal لَهُto it
لا تَقذِفَنّي بِرُكنٍ لا كِفاءَ لَهُ
وَإِنand even if تَأَثَّفَكَsurround you الأَعداءُthe enemies بِالرِفَدِwith support
وَإِن تَأَثَّفَكَ الأَعداءُ بِالرِفَدِ
Do not assail me with a force that has no equal,
Its eddies cast up the white spume in bunches—
even if enemies encircle you with support.
Every valley contributing a flooding rain,
فَماfor not الفُراتُthe Euphrates إِذاwhen هَبَّblow الرِياحُthe winds لَهُagainst it
فَما الفُراتُ إِذا هَبَّ الرِياحُ لَهُ
تَرميhurl أَواذِيُّهُits surging waves العِبرَينِthe two banks بِالزَبَدِwith foam
تَرمي أَواذِيُّهُ العِبرَينِ بِالزَبَدِ
For not even the Euphrates, when the winds stir it,
Therein debris of the tamarisk and papyrus—
its surging waves hurling foam upon both banks,
The sailor remains in fear of it, seeking refuge
يَمُدُّهُfeeds it كُلُّevery وادٍwatercourse مُترَعٍbrimming لَجِبٍroaring
يَمُدُّهُ كُلُّ وادٍ مُترَعٍ لَجِبٍ
فيهِin it رِكامٌheaps مِنَof اليَنبوتِyanbut shrubs وَالخَضَدِand broken branches
فيهِ رِكامٌ مِنَ اليَنبوتِ وَالخَضَدِ
fed by every brimming, roaring watercourse,
In a bittern-bed beyond the sand and gravel,
with heaps of yanbut shrubs and broken branches within it,
One day with richer gifts than it, it gives superfluous gifts,
يَظَلُkeeps مِنfrom خَوفِهِfear of it المَلّاحُthe boatman مُعتَصِماًclinging for safety
يَظَلُ مِن خَوفِهِ المَلّاحُ مُعتَصِماً
بِالخَيزُرانَةِto the tiller بَعدَafter الأَينِweariness وَالنَجَدِand sweat
بِالخَيزُرانَةِ بَعدَ الأَينِ وَالنَجَدِ
the boatman clinging for safety in fear of it
And the bounty of today does not prevent that of tomorrow—
to the tiller after weariness and sweat,
This is my praise; so if you hear it, 'tis well;
يَوماًever بِأَجوَدَmore generous مِنهُthan he سَيبَin the outpouring of نافِلَةٍa freely given gift
يَوماً بِأَجوَدَ مِنهُ سَيبَ نافِلَةٍ
وَلاand not يَحولُstands عَطاءُthe giving of اليَومِtoday دونَin the way of غَدِtomorrow
وَلا يَحولُ عَطاءُ اليَومِ دونَ غَدِ
is ever more generous than he in freely flowing bounty;
For I have not made myself liable to curses and shackles.
nor does today's giving stand in the way of tomorrow's.
Lo, this excuses him whom you benefit not;
هَذاthis الثَناءُpraise فَإِنso if تَسمَعyou hear بِهِin it حَسَناًgood
هَذا الثَناءُ فَإِن تَسمَع بِهِ حَسَناً
فَلَمso not أُعَرِّضdid I hint أَبَيتَmay you shun اللَعنَcursing بِالصَفَدِat a gift
فَلَم أُعَرِّض أَبَيتَ اللَعنَ بِالصَفَدِ
This is praise; if you hear good in it,
For its owner is a partner in misery.
I have not hinted at a gift—may you be spared cursing.
هاbehold إِنَّindeed ذيthis عِذرَةٌan apology إِلّاif not تَكُنit has نَفَعَتavailed
ها إِنَّ ذي عِذرَةٌ إِلّا تَكُن نَفَعَت
فَإِنَّthen indeed صاحِبَهاits author مُشارِكُshares in النَكَدِmisery
فَإِنَّ صاحِبَها مُشارِكُ النَكَدِ
Behold, this is an apology; if it has not availed,
then its author shares in misery.
Partial English translation: 97 of 100 Arabic lines translated.